They've already confused some high fashion fans with their £600 Triple S trainers that were artfully designed to look preworn. Then there was the $2,145 blue bag with more than a passing resemblence to Ikea's signature blue plastic shopper. With the addition of another tote made to exactly resemble the brand's own carrier bags, Balenciaga sent their latest creations down the Paris runways to a frisson of excitement and anticipation yesterday. What would they do next?
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Guests wouldn't have been disappointed as the weirdest collaboration yet shimmied past: a pair of platform Crocs, embellished with pins resembling fridge magnets. The gardening/boating shoe was given a new spin in 2016 by Christopher Kane, with ever-so-slightly eye watering designs involving tiger print and stuck-on gem stones.
Balenciaga have taken things a step further, literally elevating the shoes with a 10cm platform. The 'jibbitz' pins (something Crocs usually provide for a little extra customization) feature things like roses, bull dogs and rainbows, as well as, of course, the word 'Balenciaga' in bold typography. It seems that the brand's designer Demna Gvasalia was inspired by the material used to make the shoes - a sort of resin that Crocs own the rights to. He stated: 'it’s light, and in the future you will be able to 3D print them at home because they are all one piece – we are using a one-piece foam mould, and working with these kind of materials is very balenciaga!’.
Available in yellow, pink and muted green, the new breed of Crocs will be available to buy next year, though the price isn't yet known. Time will tell if Crocs officially become 'cool' or not.
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READ MORE: Christopher Kane Is Treating Us To Another Crocs Collection**
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